NEW BRUNSWICK — Before sentencing Robert Hayes today to 30 years in prison for the murder of an Old Bridge woman, Superior Court Judge Michael Toto reminded the Perth Amboy man what he told an investigator when asked if he was all evil or "is there any good in you?"

"You said, ‘There’s no good in me,’ " Toto quoted from a statement Hayes gave to authorities after his arrest in 2010.

"You’ve shown little or no remorse during this entire time and have demonstrated nothing but contempt for the rule of law and the life of the victim," the judge said.

Hayes, 36, admitted in February that he broke into the home of 52-year-old Petra Rohrbaugh, "strangled her until she was dead," then set her and her bed on fire.

Hayes said nothing when given the chance to speak before sentencing, but when the hearing was almost over, he told the judge, "You said I show no remorse. I do have remorse, but nobody wants to hear what I have to say."

Rohrbaugh’s daughter, Annika Werner, who found her mother’s body the morning of April 8, 2010, did not speak at the hearing, and explained why afterward.

"I decided not to give an impact statement because of my fear for my family when he gets out," Werner said, adding she wished he were spending the rest of his life behind bars.

"I’m very thankful to the prosecutor and his team," she said. "They did everything they could to get us justice. I’m glad he (Hayes) is off the street, but I’m sorry my mom paid the ultimate price to get him there."

Hayes also pleaded guilty in February to burglary, aggravated arson and desecration of human remains. As part of the plea recommendation, Toto ran sentences for those crimes concurrent to the 30-year murder term.

Hayes interrupted his murder trial to plead guilty in order to limit his state prison exposure. Had he been convicted of all of the counts, he faced life in prison.

During the trial before Toto in New Brunswick, testimony revealed Hayes was living in the house next to Rohrbaugh’s on Hilltop Boulevard and had become friendly with Rohrbaugh.

A music teacher, Rohrbaugh had moved from Maryland just months before her death to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.

Hayes admitted that he broke into Rohrbaugh’s home the night of April 6, 2010, "to kill her."

Witnesses, including Werner, testified that sometime in early 2010, Hayes began pressuring Rohrbaugh for a sexual relationship. Rohrbaugh refused, telling Hayes she was "married to God," according to witnesses.

Werner found her mother’s body, after Rohrbaugh had not answered phone calls that began the day before.

An autopsy showed Rohrbaugh was gagged, beaten and, with her hands tied behind her back, strangled before she was set on fire about 36 hours before her body was found.